Class act at Cleatham Hall

Barbara Young takes a trip to Cleatham Hall to enjoy a classic country house dining experience in historic surroundings.

Turn off the busy A15 from Lincoln, just six miles south of Scunthorpe, continue through sleepy Manton village and within just a mile or so, leafy country lanes guide you through pretty Wolds countryside and sweeping views of scattered farmland which wrap around Cleatham Hall.

In this classic rural setting, tucked away in its own peaceful oasis lies this charming Grade II listed Georgian country house dating back to the 17th century and rebuilt in 1855, with important links to the ancestors of Charles Darwin.

Already well established as a privately owned venue offering exclusive bespoke weddings and events, Cleatham Hall is also open for lunch, afternoon teas, evening meals and Sunday lunch served in the elegant Orangery Restaurant which overlooks its neat lawns and colourful borders.

Owned and run by kindly hosts Jim Anderson and his wife Kate, who have spent the past 10 years carefully restoring this fine house and giving it a new life as a boutique heritage hotel, the couple have created what feels like a family’s treasured country retreat from the moment you step inside.

Seasonal classics
Together with a small team of dedicated staff, Cleatham Hall offers guests a friendly, professional and helpful experience which encourages you to switch off and relax, whether you’re staying just a few hours, or overnight in one of their eight sumptuous suites.

Although Cleatham Hall is a grand house set in 10 acres of natural woods and parkland, far from being stiff and formal, the heritage décor which pays tribute to the Darwin family connections strikes just the right balance between grandeur and cosy.

Before dinner, guests are invited to relax in the small bar area or elegant sitting room to peruse the à la carte menu over pre-dinner drinks.

Cleatham Hall’s head chef has created a series of seasonal classic British country house menus which change accordingly, making the most of locally sourced ingredients.

Summer menu
On the night we visited we chose from the restaurant’s latest ‘summer’ menu, which featured a sumptuous selection of dishes to suit all tastes, including vegetarian options.

To start, we chose the soft and succulent pan seared scallops, accompanied by creamy crushed garden peas, tender stem broccoli and a shellfish bisque which was rich and deep in flavour, as well as the tender beef carpaccio with thin shavings of smoked Lincolnshire Poacher cheese served with miniature pickled baby vegetables and subtly dressed with truffle oil.

From the selection of six main courses, we chose the duo of Lincolnshire beef, which featured roast rump cap, crispy feather blade and a rich bone marrow nugget, with smooth cauliflower cheese puree and summer vegetables. Our second dish of pan fried Loch Fyne salmon fillet, served with crushed new potatoes, peas and tender stem broccoli was accompanied by a creamy romesco sauce which was a well balanced blend of flavours and an enjoyable extra touch for a favourite fish dish.

Then on to our dessert course – the delicately flavoured lemon and yuzu tart featuring crisp, thin pastry was served with a smooth raspberry sorbet and topped with scorched Italian meringue which was sweet and delicious, while the English Strawberry Iced Parfait, with white chocolate crumb, macerated strawberries and lavender shortbread was light and refreshing, both proving the perfect finish to a wonderfully presented meal packed with freshness and flavour.

Cleatham Hall also runs regular special Supper Club events featuring different themes throughout the year which are proving popular with locals and visitors alike.

If you’re looking for somewhere special to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, engagement, baby shower or romantic date night, this historic hall is a great choice… and you could even make the most of your experience and spend the night!

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